THIS year's celebrity guest who will be turning on Broadway's Christmas lights has been announced. 

Eastenders star, Kacey Ainsworth who played Little Mo Mitchell, will be switching on the Christmas lights in the Cotswold village on November 16. 

A celebrity appearance, live music and pulled wine promise to be an unforgettable experience for the community and tourists alike according to Broadway Parish Council. 

The start of the Christmas season happened yesterday (November 3) with the Tree of Light. 

Next is the Christmas light switch on before the village welcomes two Late Night Christmas Shopping evenings on November 29 and December 6.

Dr Elizabeth Wilks, chair of Broadway Parish Council, said: "We are having our celebrity light switch on on November 16. 

"Kacey Ainsworth will be turning them on and Tewkesbury Town Band will be playing, plus there will be mulled wine on the green and the deli will be open. 

"The Christmas tree will be lit up first which will synchronise with lights through the High Street and set a precedent for the Christmas shopping events. 

"We had a lot a requests since the pandemic to make a bit more of it so last year we decided to invite a celebrity and it was a huge success and so we have decided to do it again but in the future you never know we might evolve."

Tewkesbury Town Band will be playing in Broadway between 5pm and 6pm but the lights will be switched on at 5.30pm. 

Dr Wilks continued: "The Christmas lights switch on is really special and we got a lot more people visiting us last year with people not only coming from the surrounding villages but as far away as Evesham and Redditch. 

"We are trying to bring the community back to the heart of the village and bring everyone together because it's for residents not just visitors.

"Having a celebrity raises the profile of the area, not just Broadway but some people make make a weekend of it, stay in Broadway and visit the surrounding area."

Last year, Jake Wood, better known as his character Max Branning in the BBC series Eastenders made a special guest appearance.